The House of Representatives, along with the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, has passed a landmark bill called the Bruce Vento Ban Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act of 2008. The bill was introduced by Chairman Gene Green of Texas and will work towards a complete ban on asbestos use and is an amendment to the Toxic Substances Control Act.
The bill took over four years to pass. House of Representative officials hope that it will play a key role in the creation of new public health education programs designed to inform people about the consequences of asbestos exposure, including the development of asbestos cancer.
The bill is named for Bruce Vento, a former member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota. Mr. Vento was an environmental advocate and worked tirelessly to promote affordable housing programs. Mr. Vento, a former teacher, died of mesothelioma in 2000.
Concerns over asbestos exposure continue in the U.S. especially following the September 11th attacks at the World Trade Center, which contained dangerous levels of the toxin. Thousands of firefighters, police, ambulance crews, volunteers and attack survivors inhaled asbestos dust following the collapse of the towers, and a vast majority developed respiratory problems as a result.
The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center hails the House of Representatives for passing this groundbreaking bill and encourages the continued funding of public health programs that aim to raise awareness of asbestos and related health consequences, including mesothelioma cancer.
The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center is the web’s foremost resource for information regarding asbestos exposure, mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatment, and is certified by the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) as a trustworthy source of medical information. Please visit www.maacenter.org for further information.
